Swede bike lane proposed, with parking still allowed most hours

After months of discussion, the Midland Planning Commission has recommended adding a bicycle lane to Swede Avenue from Wackerly Street to Patrick Road with partial parking restrictions.

If the proposal gains final approval of the Midland City Council, parking would be restricted from 6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. on weekdays to encourage bicyclists to commute to work. Five commissioners supported the plan, while three were opposed.

Commissioner Lowell McLaughlin said creating bike lanes adds to Midland's quality of life, encouraging people to bicycle and improving the safety of those who do ride.

"For novices, it's going to take something like a bike lane to get them to do that," he said.

McLaughlin said the lane would create an artery to connect with other bike routes and bike paths in the city.

Commissioner Ray Senesac voted against the recommendation, stating the proposal went against what the city engineer, city traffic consultant, Michigan State Police and others have said is the safest option: A bike lane no parking allowed.

With the proposal allowing parking sometimes and prohibiting it at other times on different days of the week, people won't know what to expect, Senesac said.

"The people that ride a lot, they can handle all that," he said. "I'm a little concerned we're almost giving what I think is a false sense of security for the casual rider ... The whole concept just bothers me from that perspective, plus I have a hard time going against the state police and others."

Commissioner Shawn Pnacek thought marking the road as a shared lane like Ashman and Rodd streets would work better. He didn't want to restrict parking for residents on Swede, so he did not support the proposal.

Chairman Roger Mead was the third person opposed. He wanted to see the green bike route navigation signs installed with no other changes.

The proposal for a bike lane with partial parking restrictions on Swede was backed by the Midland Non Motorized Transportation Committee and supported by some area bicyclists. It is part of a comprehensive non-motorized transportation plan for the city and would be the first dedicated bike lane in Midland.

Ken Andrews, a member of Midland NMT Committee, said having a lane with parking restrictions was an appropriate choice to balance the needs of bicyclists and residents on Swede. Having the bike lanes increases safety and appeals to young professionals who want a more active lifestyle, he said.

Some bicyclists said the lane is unnecessary because bicyclists can safely travel in Midland while sharing roads.

Midland resident Greg Groninger said the expense to add signs and paint the bike lane are not worth the benefit a bike lane would provide.

"You can ride safely in Midland anywhere and get to the destinations needed and not spend this kind of money," he said.

Throughout the process the commission also heard from residents on Swede, most of whom wanted to be able to continue to use the street for parking on the rare occasion that it is needed.

In addition to recommending approval of the lane, the commission also suggested the city review the success of the bike lane on Swede before creating any future bike lanes, which have been proposed for three other streets.

The city council is expected to host a public hearing on the proposed bike lane on Nov. 14, after which a vote on approval would be considered.